H. AND C.A. BOARD.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 314, 6 June 1888, Page 2

H. AND C.A. BOARD.

Tuesday, June 5

The usual monthly meeting ofpPiis Board was held yesterday afternoofi, thero being present Messrs J. Ward (Chairman), Houtdsworth, M‘Artuey, Paul, Parker, Hendersou, Rev Father Lewis and the Secretary (Mr J. E. Hodsou). A letter was received from the Ashburton H. and C.A. Board re a woman who had previously come from Blenheim, and who had applied for aid at Ashburton. —Tho woman in question appeared before the Board, stating that she came from Ashburton. She had received no charitable aid there, but the Board bad paid her passage to Picton. Her husband was at one time a public officer in Blenheim, and on his death Dr Cleghorn had advised her to leave the district on account of her health. All she asked for was rent and firing. With that assistance she thought she would be able to support herself and her little child. She had been living in a boarding-house at Picton, and would prefer Pictou to Blenheim as a place of residence. Mr Parker suggested the old Immigration Barracks, Picton. He thought the Board would be able to get one of tho cottages free of rent. It was eventually decided that tho Secretary should write to the Pictou Hospital Board, asking them to provide the applicant with a cottage (rent as cheap as possible) and firing, and tho local Board would pay the cost of same. Au old man from Grovetown, who stated that he was 78 years of age, applied in person to the Board for relief. He said he could get a cottage and firing, and all he wanted was a few rations. Ho had paralysis in one side, and was consequently unable to work. Mr M'Artney moved that the Board supply the man with tho usual outdoor rations.

The Secretary remarked that perhaps the party whom the man was at prosent staying with would contmue to keop him for Is Gd per week, but Mr A'Artney explained that there was a difficulty owing to a want of house room. Tho motion was seconded by Mr liouldsworth, and carried. A woman, whoso husband was in gaol for debt, applied for relief in the form of half a cord of firewood.

Tho members thought tho application ought to be granted, but that the husband should bo made to pay the cost of the relief when he came out of gaol. He was a healthy aud able-bodied man. Mr Parker moved that tho Board allow her os weekly, and that they make an attempt to get it from tho husband when he came out of gaol. This was agreed to. A woman who had five children to support appeared before the Board, asking for relief. She had some property, but it was so bound up that she could not obtain any income from it. Mr Paul moved that the applicant be allowed 7s per week for rations, etc., on condition that tho money bo refunded at some future time by tho estate. Mr Paul understood that the trustees had given it as their opinion that such would bo done. The motion was seconded by Mr M’Artney and carried. Mr A. G. Fell, Chairman of tho Picton H. and C.A. Board,wrote re a young man confined in the Picton Hospital, and on whom it was necessary that an operation should be performed. The Secretary said that the operation had been performed and tho matter settled. A letter was read from Nelson re an illegitimate child at present under tho care of the Wairau 11. and C.A. Board.

The Secretary said that he had placed the child under the care of a paupor woman at Spring Creek, aud was paying tho woman -Is per week for looking after it. The Nelson H. and C.A. Board did not repudiate their liability for tho maintenance of the child.

Mr M'Artncy wanted to know whether it would not bo as well to make tho Nolson Board aware of the fact that a resident of the Kaituna District was willing to take the child on four or five months’ trial, and if she liked it to adopt it. Tho Wairau Board had not allowed the party in question to take the child, as practically it (tho Board) had no power over tho child.

It was resolved to acknowledge tho receipt of the letter, and to state that tho Wairau Board was desired to act only under tho authority of the Nelson Board. The Secretary of the Taranaki H. and C. A. Board wrote statiug that in consequence of late arrivals from England in delicate state of health having applied for admission to the hospital, a resolution was passed at last meeting of that Board to the effect “ It is desirable that great caro should be exercised under tho nomination system in selection of immigrants for this country, aud that the Government should discountenance the proceedings of agents in England who, for the sake of fees, encourage undesirable persons to omigrato to New Zealand.”

Mr R. Humber, of Grovetown, wrote in reference to a disabled man who was staying with him. Tho Picton Hospital aud Charitable Aid Board had to have anything to do with the man, BWing that he was out of their district andpirisdiction. Mr Humber asked whether tho Wairau Board intended taking any steps in the matter; if not, he would have to send tho man to tho Hospital. On the motion of Mr Henderson, seconded by Mr Houlds worth, it was decided to inform Mr Humber that tho Wairau Board did not consider itself liable in tho matter.

Patrick O’Connor wrote from Nelson to say tbut he was not liable to the Hospital for the sum of L i2, board, lodging and medical attendance incurred by his brother who had been an inmate of the Hospital. Members generally agreed that tho Board could compel Mr O’Connor to pay the amount in dispute.

The Chairman thought it would bo better to give him another chanco, and moved that if the amount was not next meeting of tho Board, it be the lawyer’s hands for recovery. The motion was seconded by Mr Henderson and carried. Father Lewis referred to three children at present inmates of the Orphanage. Tho parents were anxious to get them home, and the elder one, who was 11 years of age, would be able to earn his own living. After a conversational discussion on the subject, it was decided that the Board would find -Is per week for each child's maintenance.

Mr Henderson, as >«>e of the Visiting Committee tor tho past month, reported that everything was getting on well at the Hospital. The rooms were all very clean, and the addition of a few pictures on the walls gave them a nice appearance. The books, which were rather old and worn-like, deteriorated ft;om the good look of the room, and the matron had suggested to him that a cupboard or some

such arrangement should bo obtained for them. Rev Father Lewis and he had both agreed that something to put theso books in was very badly wanted. The wind-mill that drew up the water was also slightly out of order. The Visiting Committee also thought that if the ground adjoining the Hospital building were cleared, a very fair garden could ho made. Tho men in the institution seemed to he hanging about doing nothing, and a garden might keep thorn employed. The Committee had had no complaints from anyone, and everything about the Hospital was clean and in good order. He moved that a cupboard bo obtained for the books, and that the wind-mill be repaired. The motion was agreed to. Messrs Riley and Houldsworth were appointed a Visiting Committee for the ensuing month. The Board then adjourned.